Friday, October 13, 2006

North Korea Timeline- Who Let What Happen? When?

PRESIDENT REAGANMid-1980s: First signs of North Korea nuclear program detected by US intelligence. [Link]1986: North Korea produces plutonium in reactor. [Link]

PRESIDENT GEORGE H. W. BUSH1991: US begins talks with North Korea to end to nuclear program. [Link]1992: North Korea has separated an estimated 0-10kg of weapons-grade plutonium, enough for 1 to 2 bombs.

PRESIDENT CLINTON1993: North Korea announces it will leave nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; US prepares to attack nuclear sites. [Link, Link]1994: Clinton Administration reaches Agreed Framework, North Korea freezes nuclear production for the next eight years. [Link]August 1998: North Korea tests medium-range “Taep’o-dong-1″ missile. [Link]December 1998: North Korea warns they will test another missile, but pressure from US dissuades them. [Link]September 1999: Pyongyang agrees to long-range missile moratorium. [Link]October 2000: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is highest ranking US official to ever meet with Kim Jong Il.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSHMarch 6, 2001: Secretary of State Colin Powell says the administration will “pick up where President Clinton left off.” [Link]March 7, 2001: President Bush undercuts Powell, declares negotiations will take on a different tone. [Link]January 2002: Bush labels North Korea a member of the “Axis of Evil.” [Link]March 2003: United States invades Iraq. [Link]April 2003: North Korea withdraws from the Non-Proliferation Treaty; soon thereafter, they restart their reactor. [Link]April 2005: North Korea appears to unload nuclear reactor with up to another 15 kg of weapons-grade plutonium. [Link]September 19, 2005: In six-party talks North Korea agrees to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for incentives package. [Link]September 19, 2005: US labels bank that provides financial support for North Korean Government Agencies as “money laundering concern.” Bank freezes North Korean assets; causes collapse of September 2005 agreement. [Link]June 2006: North Korea is believed to have now produced enough plutonium for 4 to 13 nuclear bombs. [Link]July 2006: North Korea tests missiles: one medium-range and five short-range. Medium-range “Taep’o-dong-2 fails. [Link]October 3, 2006: Kim Jong Il announces North Korea plans to test nuclear weapons.October 4, 2006: North Korea asserts that nuclear test is a measure to “bolstering its nuclear deterrent as a self-defense measure.” [Link]Mid-2008: If North Korea unloads another batch of fuel, it may have enough nuclear material for 8 to 17 nuclear bombs. [Link]